Section 1. The name of the
corporation, duly organized under the general laws of Pennsylvania,
is the Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church of the Borough of
Manheim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Section 2. This corporation is
formed for the purpose of providing the members with the preaching of
Gods word, the administration of the sacraments, and the exercise of
Christian Discipline in accordance with the teaching of the Holy
Scriptures, and to adopt and prosecute such measures as shall be in
harmony with the spirit, teachings, and customs of the Evangelical
Congregational Church and shall tend to promote the general interests
of Christs Kingdom.

Section 3. The membership of
the corporation consists of the persons whose names are found on its
membership record as controlled by the corporation. A member is in
good standing if he/she attends the worship services in the
Evangelical Congregational Church, participates in the Holy Communion
services, supports the Church financially as God prospers him/her and
is not under charges of immoral conduct.

Article II

Congregational Meetings

Section 1. The regular
congregational meeting of the Church shall be held on the evening of
the 3rd Sunday of January. In the event this date should
seem inadvisable, the Official Board may by action set a date more agreeable.

Section 2. Special congregational
meetings may be called by the Official Board, the Board of Trustees,
or upon written request to either board by fifteen voting members in
good standing, specifying the purpose of such meeting.

Section 3. All congregational
meetings, regular and special, shall be announced at the public
services on two successive Sundays preceding such meetings.

Section 4. Congregational meetings
to consider dissolving or changing the ecclesiastical connections or
relations of the congregation shall be called in accordance with the
provisions in the discipline of the Evangelical Congregational
Church. All voting on these questions shall be by ballot.

Section 5. At the annual
congregational meetings, reports of the Pastor, the Treasure, and the
various boards and committees of the Church shall be reported and
reviewed for the calendar year.

Section 6. The pastor shall preside
at all regular and special meetings of the congregation. In the
pastors absence, or inability to preside, the President of the
Official Board shall preside. In the event that neither can serve, a
chairperson will be elected from the members present.

Section 7. The secretary of the
Official Board shall serve as secretary at all regular and special
congregational meetings.

Section 8. All members, 16 years of
age or over, in good standing, are entitled to vote, excepting in the
election of trustees, which is otherwise provided for in the Church discipline.

Section 9. Election for trustees
shall be by ballot. A majority of votes cast shall always be
considered necessary for election.

Section 11. If there is no election
on the second ballot, then the two persons having received the
highest number of votes shall be the nominees for further balloting.

Section 12. Ten percent of the
voting members, in good standing in the congregation, shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 13. The following shall
constitute the order of business:

1.
Devotional exercises

2.
Reading of the minutes

3.
Receipt of communications

4.
Report of special committees

5.
Report of the pastor

6.
Report of the treasurer

7.
Report of the boards

A.
Official Board

B.
Trustee Board

C.
Steward Board

8.
Reports of all church organizations

9.
Election of Trustees

10.
Other elections

11.
Unfinished business

12.
New business

13.
Reading of minutes for adoption

14.
Adjournment

Article III

Organization

Section 1. The temporal and
spiritual affairs of the congregation other than those assigned to
the board of Trustees by the charter, shall be transacted by the
Official Board. It shall be understood that the Official Board may
not usurp the powers of the local conference, the highest judicial
body of the congregation.

Section 2. It shall be the
responsibility of each officer of the corporation, elected or
appointed, to be faithful in the performance of his/her individual
duties, to attend the official meetings of any body which he/she may
be a member, to be faithful to the work of the church in general, to
attend faithfully to all the means of grace as provided by the
services of the church.

Section 3. In order to simplify the
business matters of the church, an official board is organized to
efficiently represent its members in making decisions. The board
shall be known as the Official Board of the Trinity Evangelical
Congregational Church of Manheim, Pennsylvania.

Article IV

The Official Board

Section 1. The Official Board shall
consist of the Pastor, Trustees, Stewards, Chairperson of the
Education Committee or designated representative, Chairperson of the
Missions Committee, Youth Ministry Representative, Lay Delegate, and
Church Treasurer. The congregation shall have the right to elect as
many as two members of the congregation to the Official Board as
members at large.

Section 2. The board shall
meet for organization at the next official board meeting following
the congregational meeting. The vote for officers shall be by ballot,
a majority of the votes being necessary to elect. The Pastor shall
conduct the organization of the board.

Section 3. The officers of
the board shall be a President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary,
Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Financial Secretary. The Official
Board shall elect annually the President, Vice-President, and
Recording Secretary from among its members. A treasurer shall be
elected from among its members or the congregation. The Financial
Secretary shall be chosen by the Steward Board with approval from the
official board.

Section 4. The board shall
hold its regular meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month.
Special meetings may be called by the President of the board or at
the request of three members of the board specifying the purpose of
such meeting.

Section 5. If the Official
Board meeting can not be held at the regular time, a postponement of
the meeting to another date, or hour, may be set by the action of the
board, or in the event of an emergency by the President and the
Secretary, or by the Pastor.

Section 6. A majority of the
members of this board shall constitute a quorum to transact business.

Section 7. The following shall be
the order of business at the regular meeting of the board:

1.
Devotions-Opening Prayer

2.
Reading of the minutes

3.
Treasurers report

4.
Correspondence

5.
Pastors report

6.
Standing committee reports

7.
Youth report

8.
Steward Board report

9.
Trustee Board report

10.
Sunday School report

11.
Missionary report

12.
Pastoral Relations Committee report

13.
Unfinished business

14.
New business

15.
Adjournment

Section 8. Duties
of the President. It shall
be the duty of the president to preside at all the meetings of the
board and to conduct/delegate the devotions. He/she shall not be
entitled to vote except on the election of officers and when the
members are equally divided he shall cast the deciding vote. It shall
be the

duty of the president to see that all the activities concerning the
board are carried out.

Section 9. The President shall
appoint all committees herein specified or any other committee
requested in

consultation
with the Pastor.

Section 10. Duties
of the Vice-President. In
the absence or disability of the President, the Vice-President shall
perform the duties pertaining to that office.

Section 11. Duties
of the Recording Secretary.
It shall be the duty of the recording secretary to keep a correct
record of the minutes and proceedings of the board.

Section 12. The recording secretary
shall have charge of all records relative to this board and after
their term expires, shall hand over to the successor all such records.

Section 13. Duties
of the Treasurer. The
treasurer shall receive from the Steward Board a record of all money
received and deposited in the bank in the name of the corporation.
The treasurer shall pay all bills authorized by the official board.
All bills to be paid by check only. The treasurer shall keep full and
accurate records of all receipts and expenditures.

Section 14. At the end of the
fiscal year the treasurer shall prepare a statement of receipts and
expenditures to be read at the annual congregational meeting.

Section 15. Duties
of the AssistantTreasurer.
The assistant treasurer is authorized to assist the treasure in
administering the funds of the church.

Section 16. At the end of the
treasurers term all records, documents, and money of the church shall
be delivered to the successor.

Section 17. Persons
addressing the Board. Anyone
desiring to address the Official Board must submit their agenda to
the pastor for approval one week prior to the board meeting.

Article
V

Duties of the Board

Section 1. The board is empowered
to inaugurate new work for the congregation. In no case shall an
expenditure exceeding six thousand dollars ($ 6,000.00) be made for
any single project without the consent of the congregation. Reports
of the inauguration of the new work shall be made to the congregation
in the regular or special meeting.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of
the board to elect auditors as set forth in Article X, sections 1 - 3.

Section 3. The officers of the
various organizations represented on the official board shall submit monthly

reports of the work accomplished by
their organizations.

Section 4. The official board
has the final decision in determining what functions are permissible
in the church.

Section 5. All requests for
use of the church building shall be submitted to the official board
for consideration.

Section 6. For the
convenience and assistance of its officers, the official board shall
provide postage and other incidentals that may be needed in the
performance of their duties.

Article VI

Local Conference

Section 1. The Local Conference is
the highest judicial legislative branch of the Trinity E. C. Church.
This conference is held after the last Official Board meeting in
December and is chaired by the pastor.

Section 2. All members of the
Official Board are members of the Local Conference. In addition,
retired pastors, who are still members of the Manheim Trinity E.C.
Church, may also attend and vote.

Section 3. The primary purpose of
the Local Conference is to determine the pastors salary and to elect
a lay delegate for the National Conference.

Article
VII

Official Board Committees

Section 1. The
Pastoral Relations Committee.
The pastoral relations committee shall meet a minium of four (4)
times and be composed of the presidents of each board, the Lay
delegate, the Chairperson of the Christian Education Committee, and
two members at large. This committee shall handle all matters
pertaining to relationships between the pastor and the congregation.

Section 2. The
Budget Committee. The
budget committee shall meet one (1) time and be composed of the
Pastor, the church treasurer, and members of the Official Board. This
committee shall plan and present to the Official Board at its regular
November meeting, a detailed maximum budget of necessary expenditures
for the coming fiscal year.

Section 3. The
Worship/Music Committee.
The worship/music committee shall meet a minium of four (4) times and
be composed of the Pastor, the organist, a representative from the
Worship Team, and two members chosen from the congregation by the
pastor and approved by the Official Board. The function of this
committee is determine all matters relating to the musical activities
of the church services. In the case of music for special days they
shall recommend any remuneration involved to the board for approval.

The Worship/Music Committee
shall evaluate the performance of the organist and choir director and
make a recommendation to the Budget Committee for the salary and compensation.

Section 4. The
Finance Committee. The
finance committee meets as needed and is composed of the Pastor, the
treasurer, and two members from the congregation appointed by the
pastor and approved by the Official Board. This committee shall be
responsible for devising plans and methods for raising funds for
regular and special projects proposed by the Official Board.

Section 5. The
Benevolence Committee. The
benevolence committee shall meet a minium of four (4) times and be
composed of the Pastor, the Treasurer of the Brotherhood fund, a
helping hands representative, and two members at large. The purpose
of this committee is to look after the needy and distressed of the
congregation, and provide by means to be approved by the board, the
funds needed to give the proper relief and comfort. The committee
shall keep the congregation informed of worthy community interests
which may benefit our members.

Section 6. The
Decorating Committee. The
decorating committee shall meet a minium of four (4) times and be
composed of the Pastor and three members at large. The purpose of
this committee is to make arrangements for the decoration of our
church for special events, i.e. Easter, Christmas, etc.

Section 7. The
Ushers Committee. The
ushers committee will meet two (2) times and is composed of a chief
usher and enough assistants to perform their weekly duties.

Section 8. The
Missions Committee. The
missions committee shall meet a minium of four (4) times and be
composed of the Pastor, the Chairperson of the Missions Committee,
and the Treasurer of the Missions Committee. The committee is
responsible for recommending to the Official Board financial aid to
various missionary associations.

Section 9. Christian
Education Committee. The
Christian Education Committee shall meet bimonthly and would oversee
the Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Wednesday Youth and
Children ministry, and any other educational function the board
designates. The chairperson of this committee is appointed by the
pastor with approval from the official board and shall serve until
retirement or replaced by the official board..

Section 10. Each of the above
committees shall consist of not less than three members nor more than
seven unless otherwise provided for in the by-laws or Discipline.

Section 11. Members of the
standing committees shall serve for a period of one year and shall
submit reports of their work at each regular meeting of the board.
The pastor and the president of the board shall be ex-officio members
of all standing committees.

Section 12. All standing
committees shall continue to serve until their successors have been
appointed. In the case of any vacancy on any committee, the
chairperson shall fill such vacancy unless otherwise provided in the
discipline or by-laws.

Section 13. Any special
committee of the board shall have its chairperson and its majority of
members made up from members of the board.

Section 14. All standing
committees with spending budgets shall submit their projected budgets
to the Budget Committee by the first of October.

Article VIII

The Board of Trustees

Section 1. The board of trustees
shall consist of six elected members. Trustee requirements are
membership in the congregation in good standing for one year and
twenty-one years of age or over. Members to the trustees board may be
present or absent at the time of the election.

Section 2. The election of trustees
shall be held at the annual congregational meeting. The election
shall be for a term of three years, no trustee to succeed themselves
after three consecutive terms of office, nor shall they be eligible for
the office of trustee for a period of one year. Should a period of
time elapse between the expiration of the term of trustee the same
shall serve until a successor has been duly elected.

Section 3. Vacancies
occurring on the board of trustees shall be filled before the next
regular congregational meeting in the following manner - at a meeting
of the official board, the trustees present shall cast a ballot to
fill the vacancy. If no unanimous decision can be reached, the
trustees shall submit their nominees to the official board for
election. A majority of votes cast is necessary for election.

Section 4. Within a month after the
close of the congregational meeting the trustees shall meet and
organize by the election of a president, a vice-president, a
secretary, and a treasurer. The pastor shall conduct the
re-organization unless incapacitated.

Section 5. It shall be the duty of
the president to call and preside at all meetings of the trustee
board except

as
provided in section 4.

Section 6. It shall be the duty of
the vice-president to assist and advise the president in the
discharge of the duties and in the presidents absence presides and
performs the duties appertaining to the office.

Section 7. The secretary shall keep
in permanent form a full and accurate record of the proceeding of
each meeting.

Section 8. The church office shall
be the custodian of all legal documents belonging to the church.

Section 9. The board of trustees
shall hold their meetings at their own discretion, or on the
suggestion of the pastor. Special meetings may be called by the
president or by the pastor.

Section 10. In the maintenance of
the property of the congregation, the trustees shall not purchase or
sell real estate or incur any other liability in excess of five
hundred dollars ( $ 500.00 ) or in excess of fifteen hundred dollars
( $ 1,500.00 ) for emergency maintenance.

Section 11. The board of trustees
shall have charge of all the maintenance of the corporations
property, and shall be careful to recommend to the official board any
necessary expenditures to the property in their care, including the
removal of furniture and other property belonging to the corporation.

Section 12. The Board of Trustees
shall evaluate the performance of the church custodian and make a
recommendation to the official board concerning his/her salary and compensation.

Article IX

The Steward Board

Section 1. The steward board shall
consist of six members elected in harmony with the provisions of the
church discipline. The board may operate with as few as three
members. They shall be members of the Official Board. Their duties
shall be as stated in the discipline and in accordance with the
provisions of these by-laws.

Section 2. Associate Stewards
may be nominated by the Steward Board and approved by the Official
Board. They will be elected following the re-organization of the
Steward Board to a two year term. Their responsibilities will mainly
be in assisting the stewards in counting the Sunday Service
offerings. Associate stewards are not members of the Official Board
and have no voting rights on the Steward Board.

Section 3. In addition to the
duties set forth in the discipline the stewards with the pastor shall
have charge of all church services, including making arrangements for
suitable receptions and farewells at changes in Pastorates.

Section 4. The stewards are
to serve as a committee to recommend the remuneration for substitute
ministerial supply, and for visiting speakers for special occasions.

Section 5. The board of
stewards shall organize within 35 days after the conference, electing
from themselves a president, a vice-president, and a recording
secretary. The steward board shall recommend the name of a financial
secretary to the official board for approval. This person shall serve
until the person elected retires or until the official board replaces
the person.

Section 6. The stewards to be
elected must have been a member in good standing for at least one
year and be twenty-one years of age or older. Their term of office is
for three years, no steward to succeed themselves after two
consecutive terms of office.

Section 7. The board of stewards in
connection with the pastor and the financial secretary shall give special

attention to those members of the
corporation who neglect to give financial support to the corporation,
first, by tactfully seeking to induce them to become regular
contributors and second, in case such an effort fails, to report such
persons to the official board for further action.

Section 8. It shall be the duty of
the president to call and preside at all meetings of the board.

Section 9. It shall be the duty of
the vice-president to assist and advise the president in the
discharge of the presidents duties and to perform the same in the
presidents absence.

Section 10. The financial secretary
of the board of stewards shall keep an accurate record of all money

received by the church. At the conclusion of the fiscal year the
financial secretary will distribute an individual financial report to
all contributors.

Section 11. The duties of the
recording secretary of the board of stewards is to make an accurate
record of all the business transacted at the steward board.

Section 12. The stewards
shall elect from among their membership or the congregation, one who
shall be known as the communion steward, whose duty it shall be to
provide the bread and the wine (unfermented) for the Holy Communion.

Section 13. The board of
stewards shall be accountable to the local conference for the
performance of its disciplinary claims.

Article X

Christian
Education Committee

Section 1 - Establishment

The Christian Education Committee
of the Trinity E.C. Church is organized to govern all aspects of the
biblical, moral, and religious instruction of the church.

Section 2 - Organization

The committee is comprised of the
pastor, the chairperson of the Christian Education Committee, the
Superintendent of the Sunday School, the Vacation Bible School
Director, the Wednesday Night Youth and Children Ministry Director,
and any other educational leaders the Official Board designates.

Section 3 - Sunday School

1. The Sunday School meets weekly
at a suitable hour on the Lords Day.

2. The officers of the school shall
be a general superintendent, assistant superintendent, secretary, and
treasurer, all of whom must be members of the Trinity E.C. Church.
These officers are appointed by the pastor with approval of the
official board, must be ixteen years of age or over, and serve until
they retire or are replaced by the official baord.

3. Teacher Appointments - The
pastor and the general superintendent, serving as a committee, shall
recommend to the Sunday School Board the teachers for the classes.

4. Duties of the General
Superintendent -

A. To have immediate charge of the
exercises and interests of the school;

B. To attend the Local Conference,
to give a report of the condition of the school, and to present a
statistical report of the school to the conference.

C. To consult frequently with the
pastor in reference to the interests of the school.

D. To admonish in love, officers
and teachers who may neglect their duties and, in case there is no
improvement and with consultation with the pastor, to report them to
the Sunday School Board.

E. To prepare a budget for the
foreseeable expenses of the Sunday School and present it to the
budget committee.

5. Pastors Relationship - It shall
be the duty of the pastor to organize and maintain a teacher training
class whenever possible, so as to prepare the teachers and
prospective teachers for more efficient teaching.

Section 4 - Vacation Bible School

Section 5 - Wednesday Night Youth
and Childrens Ministry

Section 6 - Missionary Organizations

Article XI

The Board of Auditors

Section 1. The board of auditors
shall consist of two members, who must be members of the corporation
for at least one year, in good standing, and eighteen (18) years of
age or over.

Section 2. An election of one
auditor shall be held each year at the time of the regular election
of the official board. Said election shall be for a term of three
years. Term to begin with the audit of the records of the year in
which the auditor is elected.

Section 3. Vacancies in the board
of auditors shall be filled by the Official Board.

Article XII

Small Group Ministries

Section 1. It is the purpose of the
Trinity E.C. Church to promote, support, and regulate all small group
ministries for the glory and honor of God.

Section 2. The meetings shall be
led by a leader appointed by the Pastor and approved by the Official Board.

Section 3. The activity groups may
include a prayer group, a home Bible study group, a lunch group, a
breakfast group, a Table Tennis group, a bowling group, or any other
group recognized by the Official Board.

Article XIII

Membership

Section 1. Any person is eligible
for membership when the qualifications for church membership stated
in the Discipline of the Evangelical Congregational Church can be
met. However, no one shall be admitted to membership in the church
unless his/her name has been submitted to the Official Board at least
one week prior to his/her admission into membership and approved by
the board in

regular
or special session.

Section 2. The service of reception
for all members shall follow the order as found in the church discipline.

Section 3. Removal because of
withdrawal shall be made only upon the written request of a member.
However, a member may be removed from the active membership roll for
failing to attend public services, commune and contribute to the
support of the local congregation for a period in excess

of
two years. If the member shows no desire to continue their
membership after an effort to

reactivate
such either by personal visitation or registered or certified mail
following a sixty days grace period, the desire to withdraw from
active membership shall be presumed.

Section 4. Letters of transfer of
membership shall be granted to those entitled to them upon request,
but only after the Pastor has reported such request to the Official
Board and proper consideration

given
and action taken by the board.

Section 5. At least one month prior
to the annual conference the Official Board shall meet in regular or
special session to determine which names shall constitute the records
of active church membership. The board should receive a
recommendation from the Steward Board.

Section 6. A copy of these by-laws,
along with an abridged copy of our church discipline shall be given
to each person uniting with the church.

Article XIV

Worship

Section 1. The Worship Service
shall be conducted according to and in harmony with the discipline of
the Evangelical Congregational Church, as long as this congregation
is in connection with said denomination. The pastor shall have charge
of the worship service. He is permitted to request a special offering
for general church work as the national conference may direct, and at
such a time as the Official Board may determine, with due
consideration of the time suggested by the national conference.

Section 2. Should the Pastor wish
to engage a substitute speaker, permission must be secured from the
Official Board, except in the case of illness or other disability.

Section 3. No one shall be
permitted to have the use of the church or occupy its pulpit, except
the Pastor regularly appointed by the annual conference and the
District Superintendent appointed by the annual conference, without
the consent of the Official Board given in regular or special
sessions assembled. This shall not apply to ministers of our
denomination in so far as the simple preaching of the gospel is concerned.

Article XV

Contributions

Section 1. It shall be the duty of
every member of the congregation to systematically contribute, as God
has prospered them, toward the local and general benevolence of the
congregation and conferences, including the salaries of the pastor,
custodian, secretary, treasurer, organist, choir director, conference
benevolence, and all other legitimate expenses pertaining to the
maintenance of the congregation and its property. This shall also
apply to the erection of necessary church buildings and canceling of
any encumbrances that may remain there on. These contributions are to
be made in the manner and according to the methods adopted by the
Official Board.

Section 2. Any member who willfully
neglects or refuses to comply with these requirements shall be
subject to the provisions of the discipline for neglect of duty. Such
persons shall be considered members not in good standing.

Article XVI

Music

Section 1. The congregation may be
supplied with song books so that all may participate in the songs of worship.

Section 2. The organist and choir
director may be employed by the Official Board with a recommendation
of the music committee.

Article XVII

Church Use

Section 1. The church buildings are
to be used only for distinctly religious purposes which bring praise
to God and spiritual uplift and edification to believers. Any groups
or individuals desiring to use the church buildings for a specific
purpose should request prior approval from the Official Board.

Section 2. All persons distributing
information, including notices, letters, newsletters, booklets, etc.,
to members of the Trinity E. C. Church, using the churchs facilities,
must have prior approval from the pastor. Controversial items must be
approved by the Official Board.

Article
XVIII

Donations
& Purchases

Section 1. No class or organization
of Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church and Sunday School is to
purchase or donate any article for the church unless it is approved
by the Official Board.

Article XIX

Rules of Order

Section 1. In the event that during
any congregational, trustee or Official Board business meeting, there
should arise points of order not stated in these by-laws or the
church discipline, Roberts Rules of Order shall serve as authority.

Article XX

Alterations &
Amendments

Section 1. Any alterations or
amendments to these by-laws, not inconsistent with the charter can be
adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the qualified adult members
present at any duly called congregational meeting. All proposed
amendments shall first be presented in writing to the Official Board
before they may be considered at the congregational meeting.